Текст книги "Sweet Reckoning"
Автор книги: Wendy Higgins
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Текущая страница: 8 (всего у книги 17 страниц)
What the . . . ? A Neph’s eyes could not do that.
I made an involuntary sound of fear and ran for the open door, but the kid was faster. He actually chuckled as he caught me by the arm and closed the door, pressing himself against my back and nuzzling his nose into my hair.
“Don’t make a sound,” he warned in a calm voice.
He moved fast, capturing both of my wrists in one of his hands and holding them above my head against the wall while his other hand circled my throat.
Red badge. Lust. American accent. But Kaidan was Pharzuph’s only child. Who was this? Why did he feel so powerful? The room darkened as the spirits piled in, making sounds like hissing and scratching that echoed in my head.
He moved my hair aside with his chin and placed a warm kiss on the side of my neck. I shivered, but not in the good way.
Again, he inhaled deeply.
“So, you’re not the one after all,” he said. “And I’d been so certain. I even hoped. I should teach you a lesson for all the trouble you’ve caused.”
What was he talking about? My mind swirled with confusion.
He ground his strong body against my backside. Every instinct inside me flared with the need to fight my way to freedom and run, but a deeper part of me told me to be still. The whisperers hovered around us, shifting.
“Please let me go,” I said, struggling for any wiggle room and finding none. He squeezed my throat harder and I made a strangling sound.
My resistance only seemed to turn him on, and he chuckled again. His hand blessedly eased off my throat, only to start wandering down my body. I was fighting the urge to bite his arm and stomp his foot when he spoke again.
“You smell so much better than the last time I saw you. If you weren’t a disgusting little Neph, I’d take you right now.”
I froze. No way.
With a grunt he released me. My eyes felt big when I turned to face him.
“D-duke Pharzuph?” I whispered. Had I fallen into a warped universe?
The whisperers bounced with anticipation. Pharzuph waved an impatient hand and growled at them as if they were pesky gnats.
“No show for you right now. She’s not a virgin. Go tell the others.” With that, they shot out of the room from all angles, making my head spin.
“How do you like it?” He grinned, motioning to his grand physique, and I swallowed. “I was going to wait a couple years, but with all the excitement going on, I wanted a change. This poor kid had a logging accident up in Oregon. Parents were already dead. It would’ve been a shame to let this go to waste, wouldn’t you say?”
I just wanted him and his ego to leave. This whole thing was incredibly weird and creepy. He sounded nothing like his old self.
“It’s . . . a good body.”
“Better than good!” he laughed. “I can have any girl on this campus tonight, and I think I will.” He rubbed his hands up and down his chest and abs, obviously high on his born-again youth. “I always forget how much energy and stamina a young man’s body has.”
Ew.
My stomach turned at the thought of him tearing through campus and hurting these girls in any way. He looked so innocent on the surface with that farmer-boy grin. And then his eyes flashed red again with his evil intentions and I jumped as he stepped closer.
“I still don’t like you,” he said. “Or trust you. But at least I can check my son off the suspicion list now.”
“Suspicion list?” I asked, trying to keep my eyes down and appear meek. “Sir, please. If this is about the summit in New York, I was just as shocked as you all when those angels came—”
“Just mind your own business and work for the cause. This place is fertile for a Neph of your type. You’re lucky Belial’s given you such a good setup after all the trouble you’ve been. And speaking of your old man . . .” He eyed me. “Where is he?”
He was trying to sound light and disinterested, but I wasn’t buying it.
“I don’t know, sir. I assume somewhere in Washington, D.C., now.”
“Hmph.” He continued to stare me up and down. How had I thought he seemed like a regular, nice guy at first? His eyes were so clinical and calculating. Even when he was grinning he had a menacing quality.
He pushed past me to the door, turning to speak one last time in a hushed voice. “Never forget you’re expendable. If you give us trouble again, you will disappear with no questions asked, angels be damned. Do you understand, Neph?”
My heart thumped. “Yes, Duke Pharzuph.”
“And when you see that father of yours again, tell him hell’s looking for him.”
Keeping my eyes averted, I gave a tight nod. My throat was too dry to swallow. I was suddenly paranoid about how long he’d be here on campus and what he expected of me.
“Excuse me, Duke. . . .” I hated how weak my voice sounded, although it was best that he knew I feared him. “I was just wondering, do you need me to, um, work with you tonight or anything?”
He laughed. Loudly. A patronizing sound.
“No, I don’t need you to work with me. I don’t work with Neph.” He practically spat the words. “I’ll only be here one night and I want to enjoy it. Find your own bar and send the drunks my way.”
He laughed again, low and lewd.
I felt his stare roaming my body before he finally left, and I collapsed onto the bed, shaking.
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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
DARTS
It was a true testament to how strange my life had become that the best night of my life was followed by the most uncomfortable. Knowing that Kaidan’s father, a guy who was now the same freaking age as him, was leaving a trail of broken hearts all over my college campus made me ill. And not just broken hearts. That would be too tame for Pharzuph. He would push people to do things they weren’t ready for, and all the while he and the whisperers would mess with their minds—filling them with guilt and self-loathing that would plague them for years to come. He wasn’t just a campus player out for sex. He was an evil bastard out to hurt souls. A weapon in a very beautiful disguise.
All night as I sat at the bar, my knee bouncing a thousand miles per hour, I thought about what Kaidan and I had shared—how special and beautiful it had been. And then I thought of Pharzuph. My stomach turned.
Did Kaidan have any idea that Pharzuph had changed bodies? Had he received a call about his father, Richard Rowe, dropping dead at work in New York City or at his posh home in Atlanta? He knew Pharzuph planned to find me and give me the sniff test—trying to catch the scent of virginity. I wished I could call Kaidan and reassure him that it had happened and I was okay.
What a freaking mess.
But at least our plan had worked, and for that I allowed myself to smile into my beer glass. Kaidan and I were momentarily off the suspicion list. Unfortunately, my father was still on it. Big-time.
My smile disappeared.
“Hey, can I buy you another?”
I looked up at the cute boy who’d spoken. The bar I’d chosen had gotten crowded and loud, but it was mostly groups of friends, so nobody had talked to me yet. Pharzuph was probably too busy to keep an ear out on me, but I didn’t want to take any chances. Plus, there were at least six whisperers prowling through town tonight, so I had to work.
“How about this?” I asked the guy. “Let’s play darts, and the loser buys the next round.”
He sucked in air through his teeth. “I don’t know. I’d feel kinda bad making a pretty girl I just met buy my drink. . . .”
“Oho, so it’s like that, huh?” I hopped off the stool, surprised by my own ability to feel lighthearted at the moment, but sometimes boys needed to be taught lessons about underestimating girls.
And so the night passed with me kicking the butt of every guy in the bar. The girls, after realizing I wasn’t interested in their boyfriends, became my cheerleaders. Yeah, I got a few people drunk. Between the beers and shots, I pushed glasses of water their way all night, hoping to keep them hydrated.
I never forgot who I was, or the fact that I wasn’t one of them, but I still let myself enjoy their company and the feeling of being embraced by friendly strangers. We were having a great time until someone turned up the television for a breaking news story. A popular rapper had been shot after his show in D.C. while greeting fans. He had a colorful past, serving jail time, but had turned his life around and become an education advocate—an inspiring American success story. And now he was in a coma, probably going to die.
Everyone in the bar shook their heads, muttering, “What is wrong with this world?”
If they only knew.
The mood was somber after that.
At closing time I managed to evade the cute boy who’d been at my side all night. I slipped the bartender a note to call cabs for my drunken buddies, giving my credit card number as payment.
As I shuffled back to the dorm at two in the morning, a knife in my pocket and the Sword of Righteousness strapped to my ankle under my jeans, I imagined that Kaidan went to school there with me and we were a normal couple. Students. Sometimes it was fun to pretend, but I didn’t let myself long for impossible things, because there were Nephilim who would do anything to have the life I led.
Calling my life blessed was ironic, considering, but when it came down to it, I was loved, and that made life worth living. Just like my mother, Mariantha, said.
As I was having that lovely thought, my dorm in sight, a dark shadow flew into my path on the narrow sidewalk, causing a shriek to stick in my throat.
“Baby . . .”
I pressed a hand to my chest. “You scared me half to death, Dad!” My telepathic voice screamed at him, and I looked behind me, searching for signs of whisperers but finding none. “Pharzuph is here tonight with a ton of spirits!”
“I know. Hurry up and get to your room so we can talk in private.” He flew ahead of me, disappearing into the side wall of my dorm.
I huffed a little, my nerves still on alert, and sped to the entry door. It was strange passing the night-watch girl at the desk. I gave her a small smile and she nodded, oblivious to the gigantic ram-horned demon at her side.
In my room, Dad practically took up the whole space, and I felt too edgy to sit. I told him about Pharzuph coming and how Kaidan and I should be safe from him for now.
“But I don’t understand something,” I said. “I didn’t recognize anything about him—he didn’t even talk the same anymore. Has he been an American before, or did he train himself to have a new accent that fast?”
“No, this is his first time in a U.S. body, but there’s certain knowledge a body retains, even when the souls switch. The brain and body hold on to habits like language and gestures. It’s still going to talk and act the same until you train it otherwise. It’s always strange at first because it’s hard to control, but it ends up being a benefit for us Dukes.”
Yeah, how convenient for them.
I told Dad what Pharzuph had said about him being in trouble. Dad laughed. Always a scary sound, deep and guttural, even in spirit form.
“They would’ve been suspicious of me one way or another, and damned if I was gonna let them capture me. I’ll be hunting for a body next, but I came to tell you that Pharzuph and the others have called for a summit tomorrow night—probably to talk about their findings and figure out what to do next. They’ll be in Switzerland.”
“Switzerland?”
“A ski town. They like to make a vacation of these summits, you know. And since they were just in Vegas, they wanted something different.” Dad, being all business, naturally disagreed with the other Dukes’ idea of mixing fun with work.
My hopes lifted.
“Wait. Does this mean we Neph have a couple safe days?” I asked.
He grunted. “Yes, but be careful. I’d say you have forty-eight hours starting tomorrow afternoon when they’re all traveling. Some will stay there longer than two days, but don’t take any chances. If you need to gather your allies or be in contact with them, this is your chance.”
“And I can see Patti!” I clapped my hands and smiled. This seemed to soften him a little.
“Yeah, you can see her. Give her my regards.”
I wished I could hug him, but all I could do was beam up at his frightening face, making him chuckle.
“And guess what else?” I said. “I got to meet Mariantha.” He became still in front of me. “She came to congratulate me on my marriage. She was beautiful, Daddy.”
He drifted back a little, weightless, whispering, “Yes . . . beautiful, and full of love. You’re so much like her, baby girl.”
I held up a hand, splaying my fingers, and he lifted his big, clawed mass of cloudy hand to mine, overlapping it.
“I love you, kid,” he said.
We shared a long, quiet pause.
“Be careful,” I told him. “Wherever you go, I hope I see you again soon.”
I closed my eyes as he surrounded me with a hug, and when I opened my eyes again he was gone.
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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
MAKESHIFT HOLIDAY
It was three in the morning, Pharzuph was somewhere nearby terrorizing the campus, and I was devising a plan. The Dukes were meeting tomorrow night, so the Neph would have to meet, too.
The thought of seeing Kaidan again after our night together gave me tingles. We wouldn’t be alone this time, but being near him was all I needed.
I knew it was safe texting Kaidan since his father was “busy,” but my hands still shook with nerves. I didn’t want to reveal too much. Each message I sent and received, I deleted immediately.
Book a flight to Va tmrw.
With pleasure. U ok? It’s been insane here.
Insane? I wondered if he meant his father’s “death.”
Here too. Lots to tell.
Same.
I texted him Patti’s address and told him I was contacting the others. I knew I’d piqued his interest and concern, but I didn’t feel comfortable sharing anything else until the Dukes were all convened on the other side of the world.
Next I texted the twins, then Blake and Kope, telling them where and when to meet. Kope would bring Zania. Everyone was a go. I contemplated texting Jay and Patti, too, but that could wait until the morning.
I was so excited about seeing everyone, and nervous about Pharzuph being so close, that I was restless all night. I finally felt myself pulled under just as the sun was rising. A couple hours of solid sleep would have to hold me over.
When I emerged, groggy and craving coffee, I wished I was better at using my supernatural sense of hearing. I wanted to know if Pharzuph was gone, but when I attempted to scan the area, everything sounded like a jumble to me—too hard to discern. Other Neph were good at it, having trained for years.
After showering and dressing, I walked downtown to a busy coffee shop, keeping my eyes peeled. It was a hot morning, but pleasant compared to the oppressive humidity I was accustomed to. I’d just paid for my drink when everyone got quiet and broke into whispers.
The hair on the nape of my neck went up.
“Oh, my gawd . . .”
“Is he on the football team?”
I turned and bit down to lock my jaw as a tall, sexily disheveled Pharzuph sauntered up to me, flanked by a dark cloud of whisperers, knowing every eye was on him and clearly basking in the attention. His blond hair was damp and he had a light dusting of morning scruff. His critical eyes lessened his attractiveness, though I doubt anyone else picked up on it.
“And how was your first night of college?” he asked in a low voice, a partial lascivious grin showing.
“Successful, sir.” I gripped my coffee to keep from shaking. “And you?”
His grin grew. “One for the memory book. I’d stay another night if I didn’t have business to attend to. I’m almost jealous of you.” He laughed at the ridiculousness of his statement and glanced around at the myriad of eyes locked on him. I swear, the room seemed to sway with all the swooning and red auras popping up. The spirits dipped and glided among the people.
“It’s a great place,” I said lamely.
He looked back at me, disappointment flashing across his face as he remembered with whom he’d been conversing. He pushed past me to the counter and I stood aside. But once he had his giant coffee in hand, he left the shop without looking my way again. From my view I watched him making eyes at every girl along the way, and even a couple guys. Then they all turned to look at me. I exited quickly through the side door and went around the corner, watching as Pharzuph caught a cab, his procession of dark spirits flanking the vehicle as it drove him away.
Thank God.
I made the long walk to my car and sat inside, sipping my coffee and feeling oddly safe and content. In a few hours my six Neph allies would be making their way to town for one night. It could be our last chance to see one another before it was time to fulfill the prophecy. With the Dukes convening that night, our time was short. We’d have to act soon.
I wanted today to be special.
I smiled to myself and started the car. I knew what we were doing tonight.
Patti had no idea I was coming. When I got to her address, I almost rolled my eyes. Of course Dad couldn’t have picked out a low-key home. He’d put her up in a huge house on a golf course. It was seriously the only new neighborhood around, and it was smack in the middle of farm country. As I pulled into her driveway, I sent a text.
Don’t freak. It’s just me.
I knocked on the door and she swung it open, pulled me inside inside the house, shut the door, and proceeded to squeeze the air out of me. I hugged her back just as hard.
“Anna!” I heard Jay say, coming up behind us.
Patti released me and pulled Jay in until we were having a group hug. She repeatedly kissed my cheek before letting us go.
“I’m so glad you’re here!” she said. “You’re sure it’s safe, though?”
“Positive. All the Dukes are flying to Switzerland right now, so the Neph are coming here.”
“All of them?” Jay’s eyes got big. I guess Marna hadn’t had a chance to tell him yet.
“Yep,” I said. “All of the allies.”
He jumped up and punched the air.
I felt euphoric. “Come on, I have groceries.”
They followed me out, and the three of us loaded our arms with bags.
“A turkey?” Patti asked. “Oh, honey, I like the sound of this.”
I thought she might. I’d gotten all of the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal.
We took everything into the kitchen and I looked around at the stainless steel appliances and stone-tiled backsplash.
“Wow, this house is . . .”
“Overboard?” Patti asked. “Ridiculously huge and fancy? Yes. Your father is a nutcase.” But she was smiling as she unpacked the pies.
“Yams,” Jay said. “Nice.” He was a bit more subdued than normal, but it was understandable, given what he was up against.
“So,” I asked the two of them, “do you want the big news first, or should I tell you everything that’s happened in order?”
“In order,” Jay said.
Patti’s eyebrows came together with impatience and she eyed Jay before saying, “Oh, all right then, in order. But make it fast!”
Marna hadn’t been able to talk to Jay at all yet, so they had no idea about what had happened since Ginger went missing. We made our way into the cushy family room. They were rapt as I talked.
“And then this huge spirit showed up,” I said, making Patti gasp and her eyes widen as I described its ramlike appearance. “And you’ll never believe who it was.” They stared at me, on edge. “Dad!”
Patti paled. “Your dad . . . he doesn’t have a . . . he’s . . . ?”
“He had to shed his body,” I said quietly.
“Dude,” Jay said. “He’s scary with a body. I can’t imagine him as a spirit.”
“Yeah. It’s so weird. He’s looking for a new body now,” I said.
Patti closed her eyes and covered her mouth. When she took a deep breath and nodded, I forged ahead.
“We knew Pharzuph was searching for me, so Dad came up with the idea that me and Kaidan—”
Patti squealed, jumping to her feet. “You’re married! Aren’t you?”
Jay’s shocked face swung back and forth between the two of us. “Nuh-uh! Are you?”
I felt so emotional about my news that I could only nod.
Patti screamed, pulling me to my feet for another bear hug. Her excitement should have felt strange, given the reason why Kaidan and I had decided to marry, but I knew Patti wasn’t focused on that. She was focused on the love we shared, and the fact that we were able to share this life experience, despite our circumstances.
“Oh, sweet girl,” she said into my hair. “I knew they couldn’t keep you apart.”
When she let me go, Jay hugged me, saying, “That is crazy. But cool. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
We sat down again, still wired from the big reveal.
“So what happened next?” Jay asked. Then his cheeks got splotchy. “I mean, not, like, next next, but, you know, after?”
I picked up the story, telling them how Pharzuph had come to my dorm room in his new form. They were shocked and disgusted.
When I was done, Patti let out a giant sigh.
“I’m so thankful we’ll have this night. I’m gonna pop that turkey in the oven and start prepping stuff. Why don’t you two go to the pool and try to relax? I think your bathing suits are in one of those boxes upstairs still.”
“I can help you with the prep,” I said.
“Nah.” She smiled. “Let me. I’ve got plenty to occupy my mind now. You two go be young or something.”
She was humming to herself as she went to the kitchen.
We changed our clothes, grabbed towels, and headed down the street to the neighborhood’s pool. A couple of families were at the shallow end, so we took lounge chairs at the other end of the pool and lay down. The sun felt glorious.
“I can’t believe you’re married,” Jay said next to me.
“I can’t believe you’re gonna be a dad,” I countered.
“Aren’t we too young for all this? Weren’t we just learning to drive or something?”
“I know, right?”
We both got quiet. He stared off, and the burdens he carried were apparent in his distant eyes.
“Jay . . . how are you feeling?”
“I don’t know. Man. It’s like, I’m not really afraid for myself, but I’m scared for Marna and the baby. I want to keep them safe, but I feel like this little nobody. Powerless or something.”
“You have more power than you realize. Knowing you love her gives Marna strength. She’s happy, Jay. I know it seems crazy, but I think she feels loved by someone other than Ginger for the first time in her life, and she’s thankful.”
“But I don’t want her to die.” His voice thickened as he choked up, causing my own throat to swell with emotion. I couldn’t respond. All I could do was reach over and link my fingers with his, connecting us in our fear and sorrow.
Lying there next to my oldest and dearest friend felt right—the stretch of silence between us was soothing.
Some kids came over, calling Jay by name. He seemed to cheer a little, getting into the water with them. Of course he’d made buddies in the short time he’d lived here. The kids took turns climbing to his shoulders and jumping off. I lay back on the lounge chair and rolled to my stomach, content as I watched them.
Sounds of splashing faded as I dozed.
And then I heard a beautiful voice. . . .
“Cover your arse, and nobody gets hurt.”
I lifted my head to see Kaidan crouched next to me. He was here! Just as I was about to get up and throw my arms around him, his gaze slid down my body to my butt and stayed there. Hello, stormy eyes.
I felt twice as hot under the sun as I had one minute ago.
I threw the towel over my body, which forced his eyes back to mine.
“Hey,” I whispered.
He touched my face, and I leaned into his palm.
“I feel like it’s been a year since I saw you,” he said softly. “I’ve missed you.”
I reached up and cupped his hand. “I’ve missed you, too.”
“But you’re still in trouble.” His voice was low and gravelly. “I need you.”
“Um . . .” I looked around.
“Come with me.” He was serious. He took my hand and I sped to keep up, holding the towel around my body. Jay caught sight of us and waved from the middle of the pool, but when he saw Kai’s determined face, he raised his eyebrows. I shrugged a shoulder innocently, and Jay shook his head. My cheeks flushed.
Kai led us to the women’s dressing room, and when he started to push the door open, I pulled back, looking around.
“You can’t go in there!” I whispered.
He pulled me forward. “It’s empty.”
Next thing I knew, we were in a shower stall, kissing behind the closed curtain.
“What if someone comes in?” I asked.
He pressed my back against the smooth tiles. “I’ll be listening.” He pulled off my towel and dropped it to the dry floor with a growl.
We kissed again and my body reacted. I pulled him closer, loving the feel of his hands across my sun-heated skin. Were we really doing this? In a public place?
Oh, just shut up, my body told my mind. Just a few minutes together before the seriousness began wouldn’t hurt.
I heard a sound outside and we both went still.
“Shite, someone’s coming.”
Two seconds later a woman’s voice sounded in the bathroom. Kai pressed his forehead to the tile next to me and squeezed his eyes shut.
“In here, sweetie. Good girl.” Oh, great. A mom was taking her little girl to the potty. I felt like a perv.
When I heard their stall door close, I peeked out and pulled Kaidan, tiptoeing out.
I chanced a backward glance at him. His eyes were heated with intensity.
“Later,” I promised.
He stopped us under the awning just before the pool area and faced me, lowering his forehead to mine.
“I can’t go back out there yet. I’m having a bit of a focusing problem.”
I gave a dry laugh, though I knew he was being serious. I was feeling tight all over, too.
“I know, baby,” I whispered, squeezing his bicep. Yeah, touching him wasn’t helping my frame of mind much either. I dropped my hand. “Let’s get back to the house so we can tell each other everything and then . . . yeah.”
“Yeah,” he breathed, eyes blazing.
I shivered.
“This is all your fault, you know.” A naughty smile appeared on his lips, and with a flush to my cheeks I remembered the cell-phone picture.
The mother and daughter came out of the restroom, passing us. Kaidan gave me a hopeful look and I shook my head. I was not going in there again.
“Come on, Kai. I have stuff to tell you. Big stuff.”
He studied me. “Are you all right?”
I wanted to tell him everything, but not out in the open like this.
I pulled clothes on over my bathing suit, got Jay, and we headed back to the house. Kaidan kept catching my eye in long gazes, conveying wordless promises that made my blood rush faster.
“Focus,” I told him under my breath.
At the house Patti hugged Kaidan, and it’d been a long time since I’d seen her so happy. She continued to hum as she bustled around the kitchen, her mouth tilting up while she chopped and shredded.
I sat with Kaidan and Jay, and we talked.
Kai said, “I suppose my father decided to make the change of the guard, because Richard Rowe died three days ago.”
“Change of the guard?” Jay asked.
“It’s when they get rid of their bodies,” I explained. “The old body dies when their spirit leaves it, and they have to possess a new one—start a new life.”
“Nasty,” Jay whispered.
“My father was going to wait a few years, but he must’ve changed his mind,” Kai said, looking at me. “I’ve worried he’d come to you as a spirit and you wouldn’t recognize him, but he’d need a body to smell you, so I’m guessing we still have time. It can take a while.”
“Yeah,” I said. “About that . . . he found a body.”
Kaidan bolted upright. “You’ve seen him?”
“Yes. He’s about your age, maybe a little older. Tall. Blond.”
His jaw tightened. “When did you see him? What did he say? Did he touch you?”
I told him everything. He stared at the wall, and pulled out his knife as he listened. He continued to open it. Close it. Spin it on his palm. Weave it through his fingers. Jay and I gave it nervous glances.
“Bloody hell . . .” Kaidan thought for a while then shoved the closed knife back into his pocket. “Would you say he’s better looking than me?”
Jay laughed. “Dude. Weird.”
“I’m only curious,” Kaidan said.
“Ew, Kai, no. I can’t even think of him like that. His eyes are pure evil. I don’t know how anyone can look at him and not get a bad feeling.”
“They probably do get a bad feeling,” said Jay. “But they like it. They feel like he’s dangerous or something.”
Oh, he was dangerous, all right. I rubbed my temples.
The doorbell rang, and Jay practically tripped over his own feet jumping up.
Kaidan slipped an arm around me. “You did well. That’s over, and we’ll be safe for a bit now.” He kissed my temple, then bit my earlobe, pulling me closer. I lifted my face to kiss him since we were semialone. As soon as his hot mouth met mine, I wished we were really alone.
“I can’t stop thinking about you,” he whispered. His words and touch held an urgency that was stronger than it had been before we married, like his self-control had lessened now that we’d been together. This was going to be a long day.
From the kitchen I heard Patti set down her stirring spoon with a clatter and say, “Well, hello, Kope. And you must be Zania! I’m so happy to finally meet you.”
I smiled up at Kaidan’s handsome face before getting to my feet.
“Z!” I ran, crashing into her in the kitchen. We hugged tight, and I smiled at Kopano over her shoulder. He gave me a half grin. More people were coming in behind him.
“Well, if it isn’t my sweet Ginger!” Patti said now. “And Marna! And you’re Blake, right?”
I couldn’t even bring myself to scoff at the “sweet Ginger” comment. We had a house full of friends and the kitchen smelled divine. The holiday had officially begun.
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CHAPTER NINETEEN
LOVE IN THE AIR
We all stood in the kitchen talking over one another. Marna and I noticed at the same time when Zania made her way back to Kopano’s side and slipped her arm snuggly under his. And then they shared a look so tender that Marna turned and gave me a hand-over-her-heart “Aww!” face. She then wrapped her arms around Jay, and they stood there holding each other with their eyes closed. So much emotion filled the room, but one stood out above the rest. . . .
Love was in the air.
Among other things. Like lust. And the smell of turkey. A weird combo.
